Giving Tip: Shop Ethical!

In theory , it’ s easy to be an ethical consumer. You simply have to buy positive (in favour of ethical products), avoid products you disapprove of (eggs from battery chickens, for example) and avoid supporting unethical companies. In practise, it is a confusing and sometimes overwhelming minefield.

Enter the Shop Ethical! iPhone app. With a touch of your phone, this handy tool allows you employ the “fully screened approach” as you wander down the supermarket aisle.

With information based on assessment gather ed from the work of more than 25 organisations , including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and Choose Cruelty Free, this app gives the low-down on the environmental and social record of co mpanies behind common brands in Australian s upermarkets.

Browse through the different product categories and discover ethical products (and those to avoid) or use the search bar to find information about a product you are specifically interested in.

Shop Ethical , a collaboration between the not-for-profit Ethical Consumer Group and Outware mobile, asks that consumers uphold five principles:

•  Ask yourself – d o I need it ?

•  Remember – every choice makes a difference

•  Don’t be overwhelmed – learn about the issues behind your shopping but tackle one issue at a time

•  Go for the best buy – based on your values and availability

•  Make new habits – as you learn more, put your decision into action every time. And give the shop or manufacturer your feedback.

Buy the shop ethical app